Process and apparatus for the manufacture of cardboard matches



Nov. 10, 1931. E. F. sATz 1,330,856

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARDBOARD MATCHES Filed May 23, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l ...;:EEEEE v vav-rd k E. F. SATZ 1,830,856

PROCESS AND AIFPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARDBOARD MATCHES Nov. 10, 1931.

Filed May 23, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 10,- 1931 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE EDOUABD FEED SATZ, OF ANTWEBP, BELGIUM Application filed at, as, mo, Serial no.

This invention relates to the manufacture of cardboard matches and it has for its object to provide a process and apparatus whereby a continuous strip or band of cardboard may be converted, in a continuous manner, into leaves of matches ready for packing into folders.

In accordance with this process, a strip of cardboard, whose width is twice that of the length of a match and its tab, is led progressively into an enclosed space where paraflin is applied along its two edges, through a machine which successively prints it and slits it to the required depth corresponding to the length of the matches to be made and is then gripped between guides inserted between match stems alternately ofi'set on each side of the stri whereupon the matchheads are tipped and the strip is'cut into leaves after having been dried.

The apparatuses used to ensure the uninterrupted sequence of the said operations are arranged so that they may function with the utmost efiiciency, whilst taking up a minimum of space.

In the attached drawings, which illustrate by way of example one form of construction of the apparatus according to this invention adapted to operate on two strips circulating side by side:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic general view of the apparatus in longitudinal section.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the paraffin coating discs, the strips to be coated being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the nism, the cardboard strips section. r

Fig. 4 is an edge view of a printing disc.

Figs. 5 and 6 are edge views of interlocking printing discs, and I Fig. 7 shows one such disc in perspective.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a piece of strip, partly printed and slit.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the slitting devices.

Fig. 10 shows a frontal elevation of the offsetting devices and Fig. 11 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 12 shows a frontal elevation of complemental cutting devices.

printing mechaeing shown in 455,099,'and in. Belgium Kay 30, 1929.

Figs. 13 and 14 are a front view and a side view of the dipping devices respectively.

As shown in Fig. 1 the cardboard strips a proceed first through a tower 1 in which they are coated with parafiin in a heated atmosphere. Upon leaving the top of tower 1, they are guided downwards into the printin and slitting machine 2, whence they are le into a chamber 3 in which the heads are dipped and the strips are dried and thence to 4, where they are cut into leaves.

The strips a pass horizontally into the base of the tower 1, are led upwards by feedrollers 5 towards guiding rollers 6, continue their course downwards between the parafiin coating discs 7 and 8 and are again guided upwards towards guiding rollers 9, emer 'ng horizontally thereafter from the top 0 the tower.

The discs 7 are partly immersed in a bath of melted paratfin 10 heated by a pipe 11. These discs carry outside flanges 7 (Fig. 2) fitting accurately in grooves 8' of the discs 8. The edges of the strips a are thus enclosed on all sides at the point where they pass between discs 7 and 8.

One side of the strip edge is coated with paraffin by the discs 7 and the other side by the discs 8 to which 'paraflin is fed by contact with the inner surfaces of the flanges 7 A driving shaft 12 actuates the discs 7 and rollers 5 through suitable connections 13.

Steam heated radiators'lee maintain the interior of the tower 1 at a suitable temperature.. The tower is ventilated by a chimney 15 opening into the lower part thereof, all other openlngs being carefully sealed against any leakage of parafiin fumes.

he two strips a pass from the parafiin coating apparatus into the printing and slitting machine 2 which comprises an upright frame in which the shaft bearings of various mechanisms are mounted above one another. The strips a enter at the top of the machine and proceed downwards whilst undergoing successive treatments and emerge horizontally at the lower end of the machine. This vertical arrangement not only reduces considerably the bulk of the machine but renders its various parts easily accessible and facilitates supervision of both sides of the strip.

All the mechanisms in this apparatus are controlled in synchronism by means of an endless screw 16 which actuates worm. wheels such as 17 mounted on the shafts of said Any one desired type is repeated round the whole circumference of each disc 21 (Fig. 4). b

When a plurality of such discs are assembled in redetermined setgucnce, into a roller, a c lindrical block is ormed, wh ch repeats a ong its periphery any des red line of text.

If a two line text is required, a gap equal to the height of the type is left between the succeeding types of one disc (Fig. 5) and the width of each disc is conveniently reduced to one half of the width of the type by offsetting the latter to one or other side of its carryin disc, the result being that when two suc gap ed discs are coup ed, the ty es of each inter ock with the gaps of the ot er and a composite disc is formed, along the edge b of which the two kinds of type alternate regularly.

Fig. 5 shows from left to right: left hand disc 25, right hand disc 26 and the composite interlocked disc. Such composite discs are then assembled to form a type roller.

If a three line text is required aroller is similarly assembled of composite discs consisting of three single d scs 27,28, 29 bearing three kinds of alternating types (Fig. 6). In this case the gap left between the succeeding types of any single disc is egual to twice the hei ht of. a type and the width of the disc is re need to one third of the width of the type. Fig. 7 shows a single disc in rs eotive. Tl ie rollers 19 and 20 arekpreferably arranged alternately on both si es of strips a, so as to print on one face of each strip the text 0 placed on one side of centre l ne b of the strip and to print on thG OPROSItG face the text 0 (pylacedfn the other side of the centre line i 8 After the mitches have been made, the cardboard need then only be folded along its centre line b, when the matches will take up the position which they are to take in the folders, thus saving much time.

Upon leaving the printing rollers the two strips a enter the slitting mechanism which cuts, on either side of tab d of each strip (Fig. 8) transverse slits spaced from each other by the width ofone match e and coinciding with the gaps between successive texts c or c.

- The slitting mechanism consists of discs 30 fitted with radial cutters 31 facin I smooth discs 32 Figs. 1 and 9 which ress t e strips vex and the surface of the other side concave, so that all texts appear on the convex sides and an appearance of careful finish is im arted to the matches.

11 order that the depth of the slits may be exactly adjusted the bearings 33 of the cutter earing shafts 34 are mounted ad'ustably between fixed supports 35 and t e distance between said bearings may be lessened as required by tightening screws 36 against the pressure of spring 37 inserted between said earings (Fig. 9).

Since the slits must exactly coincide with the gaps between the texts, two cams 38, 39 are inserted for purposes of adjustment to bear against the portions of strips extending from the printing mechanism to the slitting device. By moving these cams at an angle, the portion of stri between them may be inclined slightly and the length of cardboard etween the points at which the treatments take place may be increased or reduced according to need. Similar cams may also be inserted at other places.

The vertical position of the strips in machine 2 allows both sides of each strip to be constantly visible and all adjustments may therefore be effected with complete accuracy.

Strips a then pass into the ofl'setting mechanism, which alternately raises and depresses successive matchstems above and below the level of the strips as a preliminary to the tipping of each match head with ignitible composition in the dipping apparatus. For this purpose each row of matchstems passes between a pair of cogwheels 40 (Figs. 1 and 10) whose teeth are spaced b'y twice the width of a match and which press the stems out of the level of the strip. To prevent the return to the level of the strips, of the stems thusr cutters 44 of discs 43 are suitably spaced to cut oil one match in nine, in ten, in eleven or in any required number, according to the width of a folder.

Since the matches do not always fall by their own weight, the strip is led on into a clearing device consisting of smooth rollers 45 and of discs 46 similar to rollers 42 and discs 43 except that, instead of carr ing cutters, the discs 46 are provided with teeth to detach the cut matches.

The synchronism of the above operations is insured by the provision, below the clearing device, of a pair of rollers 47 adapted to keep the strip taut and to exert upon the same a pressure which may be regulated by reducing orincreasing the distance therebetween.

In view of subsequent packing in folders, the

next operation is that of making a longitudinal groove along centre line b of the strip (Fig. 8) and this is effected by means of smooth rollers 48 and of circular cutters 49 (Fig. 1). j

The strips emerge horizontally from the printing and slitting apparatus after passing between guiding rollers 50 and enter the dipping and drying apparatus 3 under continued guidance by the triangular laths 41.

The strips passfirst between horizontal driving rollers 51 and at 52 they are placed on edge by a 90 turning motion.

This quarter turn is most conveniently obtained by imparting a helical twist to laths- 41. The strips thus arrive above the dipping tank 53, containing the ignitible composition,

in such position that the match ends along one edge of the strip point downwardly.

Two discs 54, partly immersed in dipping tank 53, are driven by an endless screw 55 at a peripheral speed substantially equal to that of the strips. These discs are provided at their periphery with slots 56, into each of which one of the rows of match heads on either side of the lower triangular lath engages (Figs. 13 and 14).

In passing, each match is tipped with a small quantity of composition contained in the corresponding slot of the disc and it is thus furnished with an ignitible head.

Strips a, now supplied with heads along one of their edges, are kept moving for a suitable time in a heated atmosphere constantly renewed by means of a ventilator 57. When the heads have set, the strips a are turned through 180 at 58 so that their opposite edges are turned downwards. As in the pre vious instance, this turning motion is most conveniently imparted by a helical twist in laths 41. The ends of the match stems of this edge are tipped in their turn with composition by grooved discs 54, partly immersed in dipping tank 53 and are then subjected to a blast of hot air by ventilator 57 The strips are then again turned through 90 into a horizontal position, whereupon they pass between feed rollers 59 and enter the dryer 60 situated above the dipping apparatus, in which drying and hardeningare completed.

In dryer 60, the strips a follow a zig-zag course between two series of roller pairs 61, 62 driven by a common control. Upon emerging from dryer 60 the strips enter a sectioning mechanism 4 provided with a rotary blade 63 which cuts and ejects them in sheets or leaves a" of suitable length.

It then only remains to fold these leaves along the central groove cut by blade 49 and to pack them in folders. a

It will be understood that the details of construction herein shown by way of example may be changed without departing from the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a process of making matches from a continuous strip of cardboard, continuously moving said strip, coating both sides thereof w 1th paraflin along its longitudinal edges, slitting said strip transversely from both edges to a depth corresponding to the length of the matches to be made to form a succession of matchstems, alternately offsetting said matchstems on each side of said strlp, inserting guides between said ofl'set match stems along both edges of said strip, successlvely tipping the match stems along each edge of said strip while said strip is being guided, and cutting said strip into leaves.

2. In a process of making matches from a continuous strip of cardboard, moving said strip through a heated atmosphere, coating both sides of said strip with paraffin while in said heated atmosphere, causing said strip to travel downwardly, successively subjecting said strip to printing and slitting operations while travelling downwardly to form a succession of printed match-stems, alternately offsetting said matchstems on both sides of said strip, tipping said match stems while keeping them offset, and cutting said strip into leaves.

3. In a process of making matches from a contlnuous strip of cardboard, continuously moving said strip, coating both sides there-- of with paraflin along its longitudinal edges, simultaneously printing one face of said strip on one side of its longitudinalaxis and the opposite face on the other side of said axis, forming successive matchstems by transversely slitting said strip from each edge to a predetermined distance from said longitudinal axis, alternately offsetting said matchstems on both sides of said strip, tipping said matchstems and cutting said strip into leaves.

4. In a process of making matches from a continuous strip of cardboard, causing said strip to move downwardly, simultaneously printing a succession of text lines on both faces of said strip, the lines on one face being on one side of the longitudinal axis of said strip and the lines on the opposite face on the other side of said axis, and simultaneously applying cutting edges between the text lines on both faces of said strip.

5. In a process of making matches from a continuous strip of cardboard, continuously moving said strip, coating both sides thereof with paraflin along its longitudinal edges, transversely slitting said strip from each edge to a predetermined distance from said longitudinal axis to form a series of matchstems on each side thereof, alternately offsetting said matchstems on both sides of said strip, successively causing each series of j stems extending outwardly from the central portion of said strip, and to alternate offsetting of said matchstems, causing said strlp to take up a horizontal course, twisting said strip to cause one series of matchstems to point downwardly, tipping said downwardly pointing matchstems, twisting said strip to cause the other series of matchstems to point downwardly, and tipping the matchstems of said other series.

7. In a process of making matches from a continuous strip of cardboard, continuously moving said stri coating both sides of said strip with parafhn, transversely shttlng the edge portions of said strip into two series of matchstems extending outwardly from the central. portion of said strip, alternately offsetting the matchstems of both series on both sides of said strip. introducing said strip into a heated atmosphere, successively causing each series of matchstems'to point downwardly, tipping the matchstems of each series while pointed downwardl drying the tipped matchstems, moving sai strip out of said heated atmosphere, and cutting said strip into leaves.

8. In apparatus for the manufacture of matches from a continuous strip of cardboard,-

the combination of a vertical tower, means for guiding a strip of cardboard into said tower, up and down in said tower and out of the top of said tower, means in said tower for applying paraflin on both edges of sald strip, means for heating the atmosphere 1nside said tower, a vertical frame adjacent said tower, printing, slitting and offsetting devices arranged in superposed relation 1n said frame, means for guiding said strip from the top of said tower downwardly through thedevices in said frame, a tipping apparatus adjacent said frame, and means for uiding said strip from the bottom of said frame through said tipping apparatus.

9. In apparatus for the manufacture of matches from a continuous strip of cardboard, the combination of a vertical tower, means for guiding a strip of cardboard into said tower, along a zigzag path vertically up and down in said tower and out of the topof said tower, at parafiin tank at the bottom of said tower, discs revolving in said tank, said discs being adapted to engage the edges of said strip at an mtermediate point of said zigzag path, and vertical radiators in said tower.

10. In'apparatus for the manufacture of matches from a continuous strip of cardboard, the combination of a vertical tower, means for guiding a strip of cardboard up and down in said tower, a arafiin tank at the bottom of said tower, anged discs revolving in said tank, rotatable recessed discs above said flanged discs, said flanged and recessed discs being in mutual enga ement and adapted to enclose the edges of sald strip between them.

11. In apparatus for the manufacture of matches from a continuous stri of cardboard the combination of a vertical frame, a prlntmg device in said frame comprisin a printing roller and a plain roller adapte to engage one face of said strip, and a printing roller and a plain roller adapted to engage the opposite face of said strip, each printing roller facing a plain roller, and under said printing device, a slitting device in said frame comprisin slitting rollers and bearing rollers adapts to engage said strip, said slitting and bearing rollers being in equal number and similarly arranged with respect to each other as said printing and plain rollers.

12. In apparatus for the manufacture of matches from a continuous stri of cardboard, the combination of a vertical frame, a printing device.in said frame, a slitting device in said frame below said printing device, means for guiding a strip of cardboard through said printing and sllttin devices, and cam means in said frame a apted to engage said strip to vary the length thereof comprised between said printing device and said slitting device.

13. In apparatus for the manufacture of matches from a continuous strip of cardboard, the combination of a paraflining apparatus, a vertical frame adjacent said apparatus, means for leading a strip of cardboard from said apparatus to the top of said frame and down said frame to the bottom thereof, means in said frame for rinting one face of said strip on one side of its longitudinal axis and the opposite face on the other side of its axis, means in said frame below said printing means for forming successive matchstems by transversely slittin said strip from each edge to a predetermine distance from said axis, and means in said frame below said slitting means for alternately offsetting said matchstems on both.

sides of said stem.

14, In apparatus for the manufacture of matches from a continuous stri of cardboard, the combination of a vertical frame,

9 the second tipping device. 1

printing means in said frame adapted to engage a downwardly travelling strip of cardboard, means for transversely slitting the edge portions of said strip into two series of matchstems extending outwardly from the central portion of said strip, means for al'- ternately 'ofi'setting the matchstems on both sides of said strip, and guides adapted to engage between alternate matchstems on both sides of said strip. 7

15. In apparatus for the manufacture of matches from a continuous strip of cardboard, the combination of means for continuously moving said strip, means for forming two series of matchstems by transversely slitting both edge portions of said strip, means for separating each series of matchstems into two rows of matchstems by alternately offsetting sad matchstems on both sides of said strip, guides adapted to engage each between two' rows of matchstems, said guides comprising a pair of laths of triangular cross-section, means for successively tipping the two rows of matchstems on each side of said strip, said guides extending above said tipping means. I

16. In apparatus for the manufacture of matches from a continuously moving strip of cardboard, the combination of means for transversely slitting both edge portions of each strip to form two series of matchstems,

means for separating each series of match-- stems into two rows of alternated matchstems, guides adapted to engage each between two rows of matchstems, two tipping devices arranged one behind the other, said guides being twisted to successively present one series 0 matchstems to the first tipping device and the other series ofmatchstems to 17. In apparatus for the manufacture of matches from a continuously moving strip of cardboard, the combination of means for transversely slitting both edge portions of each strip to form two series of matchstems, means for separating each series of matchstems into two rows of alternated matchstems, guides adapted to engage each between two rows of matchstems, two tipping devices arranged one behind the other, each tipping device comprising a tank for the tipping composition and a rotary disc partly immersed in said composition, said disc having twoperipheral grooves adapted to engage each the tips of a row of matchstems, said guides being twisted at various points to present the two rows of one series of matchstems to the first tipping device and then the two rows of the other series of matchstems to the second tipping device.

18. In apparatus for the manufacture of matches from' a continuously moving strip of cardboard, the combination of means for transversely slitting both edge portions of each strip to form two series of matchstems,

means for separating each series of matchstems into two rows of alternated matchstems, guides adapted to engage each between two rows of matchstems, two tipping devices arranged one behind the other, said guides being twisted to successively present one series of matchstems to the first tipping device and the other series of matchstems to the second tipping device, means for blowing hot air on said strip as it leaves each tipping device, a closed chamber above said tipping devices, means for circulating sad strip through a zigzag course in said chamber, and a rotary cutter for cutting said strip into leaves as it comes out of said chamber.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. EDOUARD FRED SATZ. 

